Red Sox make Ortiz deal official

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - David Ortiz will remain a member of the Boston
Red Sox, after the club confirmed on Monday that the slugger has agreed to a
two-year contract.

Financial terms were not disclosed, though Comcast SportsNet New
England reported on Friday that the pact will be worth $26 million
guaranteed and contains additional incentives that could push the total
value to $30 million.

"This is a very important step in our offseason. We're thrilled to
keep him here," said Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington at a press
conference announcing the new contract. "We want David to retire as a Red Sox,
and we hope that's many years from now. But we're happy he'll be sitting in
the middle of our lineup next year."

Despite being limited to just 90 games due to a right Achilles injury, Ortiz
belted 23 homers and knocked in 60 runs while batting .318, his highest
average since 2007.

Since joining the Red Sox prior to the 2003 campaign, the standout designated
hitter has averaged 34 homers and 109 RBI while batting .290 over 10 seasons
and has been selected an American League All-Star eight times over that span.

"It's an honor for me to be back with an organization I've been a part of for
the last 10 years. My focus right now is to provide what this organization has
come to expect from me," said Ortiz. "I want to try to represent it the best I
can. It was very painful what we went through this year."

Ortiz, who turns 36 on November 18, would have been a free agent at 12:01 a.m.
(ET) last Saturday, and FoxSports.com reported last Thursday that the
Texas Rangers had an interest in the veteran as a possible replacement for
free-agent outfielder Josh Hamilton.

The Red Sox did give Ortiz a qualifying offer prior to Friday's deadline, the
only one of the team's free agents to receive one. Boston did not tender
offers to outfielders Cody Ross and Scott Podsednik, pitchers Aaron Cook,
Daisuke Matsuzaka and Vicente Padilla and first baseman James Loney.